Spool or reel



Aug. 11, 1931. w. c. MILLS 1,818,149

SPOOL OR REEL Filed July '7, 1928 ZUwLLaca (i2 Wall-5,

Patented Aug. 11, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALLACE C. MILLS, OFROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO J. L. CLARK MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, OFROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS SPOOL OR REEL Applicationfiled July 7, 1928. Serial No. 291,078.

The invention relates to spools of the type comprising a tubular corehaving substantially flat sheet metal heads secured upon op- Viewthrough one end posite ends thereof. Such spools when made in largersizes are adapted to contain wire, insulated electric conductors, etc.,and are commonly supplied in large numbers to the manufacture of theproduct to be wound on the spools, \Vhen thus made in large sizes theynecessarily consume a large amount of space-when packed in assembledform for shipment, while the weight is relatively light, and thereforeshipment in assembled form is objectionable.

The object of my invention is to provide a spool of a construction suchas to lend itself to shipment in disassembled or knock-down form, whilepermitting the user thereof to assemble the same quickly andeffectually.

A further object is to provide a spool of the character above referredto having means of a simple character for rigidly securing the headsonto the ends of the core without the use of forming. dies or the like.

The objects of the invention thus set forth, together with other andancillary advantages are attained by the construction and arrangementshown in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, it beingcontemplated however, that various changes may be made by those skilledin the art without departing from the spirt and scope of the invention.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a side elevational view of a spool or reelof the character referred to. I

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional of the spool in assembledrelation.

Fig. 3 is a. fragmentary sectional view showing the method of assemblingthe parts of the spool.

Fig. 4: is a fragmentary end view also showing the assembling operation.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a connecting member employed insecuring the head on the end of the core, in the form of a plug.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating adetail ofconstruction, the same being taken in the plane of line 6-6 of Fig. 4. a

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view through the connecting member buton a smaller scale, the view being taken in the plane of line 7--7 ofFig. 5.

The spool comprises a core 8 formed from a fiat sheet of metal with themeeting edges thereof joined by a suitable seam 9. An an= nular head 10is formed near each end of the core and projects outwardly therefrom. Anend portion 11 extends beyond the bead 10 and in the present instance isshaped to provide internal and external helical grooves or threads.

Each of the heads 12 are, in the present embodiment, formed from asingle flat sheet or disk of metal, though the invention is not limitedto this construction. The outer peripheral edge of the disk may becurled as at 13 for finishing and strengthening purposes. The innerperipheral edge of the disk is in the present instance preferablyprovided with a flange 14 encircling the threaded extension 11 ofthecore, and said flange may have a helical groove or thread so as to forma threaded nipple or sleeve adapted to be screwed onto the core ininterengagement with the external thread thereon. The bead on the coreis preferably shaped to provide a flat seat portion 15 for the head,while the opposite wall of the bead may be inclined.

In assembling the parts ofthe spool each head is seated upon its head 10and is held tion 11 of the core so that the annulus may be screwed orthreaded into the core and held in such position by reason of the screw4 threaded relation.

- It will be apparent that the parts may thus be rigidly securedtogether, the annulus serving as a nut clamping the head on its seat andpreventing it from being unscrewed from the core.

In the preferred form the annulus has formed integral therewith atransverse partition 20 constituting an end wall for the core whichpartition may be centrally apertured as at 21 to receive a rod or shaftupon which the spool may be mounted for the purpose of dispensing theproduct thereon.

The. end wall 520 may be utilized in assembling the parts, being forthis purpose provided with struck up segmental bosses 22 providing sharpabutting edges 23 in opposed relation on opposite sides of the axis ofthe core, but spaced slightly on opposite sides of a diameter passingthrough the core. Between these abutting edges 23 a bar or key 24 may beplaced as shown clearly in Fig. 4, and it will be apparent that uponturning the key 24 to the right (Fig. 4) the annulus may be turned in adirection to screw the same into the core and thus clamp the head inplace on the core. Preferably the bosses 22 provide inclined surfaces 2aopposite the sharp abutting edges 23 over which the key 24 will ride ifan effort is made to unscrew the annulus from the core.

It will be apparent that the construction is very simple, may beeconomically manufactured, and by reason of the fact that it may bequickly and easily assembled may be shipped to the user in knock-downform, thus reducing substantially the cost of shipment.

I claim as my invention:

1. A spool comprising a core, a head to be secured upon one end thereof,means providing a seat for the head to hold it against inward movementrelative to the core, and an annulus having a portion adapted to beinserted into the end of the core in interengaging relation therewith,so as to be held against relative longitudinal movement, said annulusfurther having a portion curled around the end of the core and engagingwith said head to hold it upon its seat.

2. A spool comprising a core formed of sheet metal and having a beadnear one end thereof shaped to provide a flat seat, a head in the formof a disk centrally apertured to encircle the end of the core whileengaging said seat, said head having a flange defining said apertureandfitting snugly the end of the core, and an annulus adapted to beinserted intothe core in binding relation thereto and having a portionengaging with the head to hold it upon said seat.

3. A knock-down spool having a core with a. circumferential groove nearone end, a

head centrally apertured to receive the end of the core, means forming aseat for the head, and a memberfor clamping the head on said seat, saidmember having a part adapted in turning to interengage with said groovein the core, and a portion engaging with the head, and said memberfurther having a partition extending transversely of the core andcentrally apertured to receive a supporting rod.

4. A spool comprising a core having a shoulder at one end and a partprojecting from said shoulder, a head including an apertured diskadapted to seat upon said shoulder and having a part screw-threaded intoengagement with said extending part of the core, and an annulus having ascrew threaded connection with one of said parts and serving to enclosethe same, said an nulus also having rigid therewith a disk forming anend wall for the core.

5. A spool having a sheet metal core with a screw threaded end portion,a head threaded onto the exterior of said end portion. and a nut inscrew threaded engagement with the interior of said end portion andserving to hold the head from unscrewing from the core.

6. A spool comprising a core formed from sheet metal and having ashoulder near one end thereof, a head formed from a disk centrallyapertured to encircle the end of the core while seated against saidshoulder, said head having a flange defining said aperture and arrangedto fit snugly against said core, said flange and said core having meansformed thereon whereby said head may be manually interengaged with saidcore to form a spool.

7. A spool having a sheet metal core with a screw-threaded end portion,a head threaded onto the exterior of said end portion, and an annulus inscrew-threaded engagement with the interior of said end portion andhaving a portion reversely curled around the end of the core andengaging said head to hold the same against unscrewing from said core.

8. A spool adapted for manual assembly and comprising a tubular corehaving a screw-threaded end portion, a head adapted to be threaded ontothe exterior of said portion, an annulus adapted to be threaded into theinterior of said portion, said annulus having a reversely curled portionarranged to extend over said end portion into engagement with said headto lock the same against unscrewing from said core, a transverse wallconnected to said annulus and arranged to be positioned within said corewhen the parts are in assembled relation, and projections formed' onsaid wall whereby said annulus may be engaged and screwed into saidcore, said projections being arranged to be inoperative for the purposeof unscrewing the annulus from its operative position on the core.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

WVALLACE C. MILLS.

